Classroom12.5

Classroom of the Elite 2nd year Volume 12.5

Chapter 5. Getting Ahead

A few days after meeting with Morishita and Yamamura, things got a little busy.

I got caught up in a commotion involving the graduates. To resolve the matter, I ran around seeking help from various people, and fortunately, everything was eventually resolved. However, this left me utterly exhausted.

During this time, someone must have leaked the information. The news about Sakayanagi's voluntary withdrawal spread throughout the school. Not just in her class, but most of the students knew about it. I wonder what Sakayanagi is thinking now.

Although I've run into her a few times recently, we haven't had a chance to talk directly, so I don't know the details. But there's no need to rush. After all, both of us know it's not the right time yet.

After 10:30, I left the dormitory and headed toward the Keyaki Mall. On the way, I saw three girls standing and chatting. They were Matsushita, Mii-chan, and Onodera.

"Ah... G-Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun."

Mii-chan was the first to notice me and greeted me.

Even though I was responsible for her friend's expulsion, she still greeted me with a smile.

Or at least, she had to act like that on the surface.

Regardless of her attitude, I treated her as I always do.

"You three make for an unusual group."

"Mii-chan is meeting up with a friend to hang out at Keyaki Mall, and we were asking if she could take the two of us along."

Matsushita answered with a slight squint, while Onodera beside her nodded repeatedly.

It seems that this trio wasn't a deliberately planned group.

"Oh, Ayanokouji-kun, we were just talking about this earlier—do you know about Sakayanagi's voluntary withdrawal?"

Exaggerating slightly, Matsushita brought up the topic with Mii-chan and the others.

"Yeah. I heard about it earlier."

"It's really shocking. Not only did Ryuuen's class win the exam, but something like that happened behind the scenes," Onodera crossed her arms and looked toward the dormitory. Sakanagi's own class couldn't even fully understand the details of the exam, so it's not surprising that other classes had no clue. Then a few things came up that I didn't even know about.

"After the club activities yesterday, I saw Kitou-kun holding onto Ryuuen-kun tightly. The atmosphere was ice-cold."

"Even though Class A and Class C have always had that kind of relationship, it's gotten to this point now…"

"In that kind of situation, it feels like they could start fighting any second."

"Mhm," Nodding in agreement, Onodera seemed to recall the scene from last night, her expression carrying a hint of excitement.

On the other hand, Mii-chan appeared more concerned about the possibility of a violent incident.

"Lately, it feels like the atmosphere at school is heading in a bad direction. I hope nothing happens."

Losing their leader, combined with the resulting frustration or hostility, all of it is being directed toward Ryuuen.

If they encounter someone with a hostile disposition, the consequences could be disastrous.

"I really don't have the confidence to stop something like that..."

"Why bother stopping it? If the boys want to fight, just leave them to it."

"That's true. If that happens, it might even work in our favor."

If a commotion breaks out, it's easy for the school to catch wind of it, and it could affect the class points as well.

"This time, not only did Class A suffer a crushing defeat, but it also forced Sakayanagi to withdraw. The tide has completely turned in our favor."

Matsushita is clearly enjoying the benefits the exam brought and believing everything would go in a positive direction for them.

"Exactly. If Sakayanagi withdraws, it will bring severe penalties to their class. They might even fall to Class C or D."

It's hard for students to accept being dropped from the top position to the last, especially after being in Class A for two years.

"I see. It's natural they're panicking now."

Suddenly, a complex expression appeared on Onodera's face, which had been smiling just a moment ago.

"Are you not happy about this?"

"No, of course I'm happy. But, how should I put it, this is somewhat of an incident, right? If I were an A-class student, I'd definitely feel a lot of pressure."

For better or worse, until now, the students of Class A have been following only Sakayanagi's instructions.

"Maybe they should have an all-out brawl, regardless of gender, to blow off some steam," Onodera suggested, revealing her own way of relieving stress.

"Eh?! I think that's not a good idea…!"

"Ah, of course, I'm just giving an extreme example. What I mean is, if they don't vent their accumulated emotions, the road ahead will be tough."

"I actually hope they just fall apart just like this. As far as strength goes, Sakayanagi's class is stronger. Even if the leader leaves, their academic performance won't drop."

That's true. Even though this withdrawal incident will have an impact, if it's about the basic academic strength, their class is definitely stronger.

"Hoping they just fall apart... You really dare to say that."

"Matsushita's words are pretty harsh…"

"I'm someone who looks at things calmly. I'll accept the favors that come my way without hesitation. After all, getting into A-class isn't easy."

Her deliberate positivity wasn't to show off her personality but rather to prevent Mii-chan from worrying about trivial details.

At that moment, Mii-chan's phone rang.

"Sorry, it's from Shinohara-san."

Mii-chan greeted us and walked aside to answer the phone.

The person on the other end of the line is probably the person she was waiting for.

Onodera, speaking in a way that wouldn't disturb Mii-chan, said:

"Recently, Sudou-kun has been praising you a lot, Ayanokouji-kun. I often hear him say things like 'That guy's really amazing.'"

"Eh? Is that so?"

"At first, I didn't take it seriously, but after hearing Horikita-san's statement about Ichinose-san raising the white flag, I've started to accept it a bit. Though… I still feel bad about what happened with Maezono-san..."

"It seems like you've finally realized how amazing Ayanokouji-kun is."

"So, Matsushita, did you notice this a long time ago?"

"I had a vague feeling. I thought Ayanokouji-kun might not want to stand out too much, so he's been hiding his abilities until now. But this time, taking on the role of leader and winning the exam… it felt like he was going all out."

"Well... that's true."

"So this is what they call 'still waters run deep'? He's quite reliable."

Onodera said with a cheerful admiration, playfully tapping me lightly on the chest.

"Even though Maezono-san's expulsion hit Mii-chan hard, she's slowly coming to terms with it. She won't speak ill of you, Ayanokouji-kun, don't worry."

"It's fine. Being blamed by everyone is just something I have to accept."

"That's not right. This isn't just Ayanokouji-kun's responsibility."

"If anything happens, just let us know. We'll help you out."

After chatting a bit more, I excused myself, citing another appointment, and headed toward Keyaki Mall.

1.

It was 12:17 PM.

When I arrived at the agreed-upon café, Hoshinomiya-sensei was already there.

We had arranged to meet today, but she currently looked rather bored, idly tapping away at her phone.

"I'm late."

"You're late quite often, aren't you? Showing up 17 minutes late to meet me—so audacious."

"I'm sorry."

Even though I apologized, Hoshinomiya-sensei's face wasn't one of indignation—no, it was one of utter shock, her mouth agape.

"Eh? That's it? You're not even going to explain why you were late?"

"I overslept. When I woke up, it was almost 12 PM."

I made up a quick excuse, and she pressed her fingers to her forehead, her brows furrowing tightly.

"…If this were a date, you'd be busted 100%, busted!"

Hearing this unexpected excuse, Hoshinomiya let out a sigh and pouted even more indignantly.

"Sigh, criticizing you won't bring back lost time, and it would only waste more time. So? You said you wanted to meet me—what's your plan?"

"If I said I wanted to go on a date with you, how would you feel about that?"

"Not happening. I can't imagine going on a date with someone who overslept the first time we met."

This certainly didn't feel like a typical conversation between a student and a teacher. I pressed on.

"I'd like to discuss the year-end special exam with you again, Hoshinomiya-sensei."

Just a moment ago, she seemed morally indignant, but upon hearing that, her demeanor shifted entirely.

"Huh? Now?"

She made no effort to hide her expression of "Are you kidding me?"

"Yes, now. After all, Horikita's class won."

Not only was I late for our meeting, but I also made a provocative remark. Naturally, she was irritated.

"You say that like it has nothing to do with you. Isn't that class *your* class, Ayanokouji-kun?"

She pointed out the subtle nuance in my wording, picked up a wet napkin, and wiped some water droplets off the table from her glass.

"I watched your face-off with Ichinose. I can't believe you'd do that to a girl who likes you."

"To win, it's necessary."

"So you're willing to do anything to win? Even exploiting the feelings of someone who likes you?"

"I don't see the problem."

Hearing this, Hoshinomiya-sensei placed a hand on her forehead and let out a long sigh.

"You're awful."

However, I countered her pretense of morality.

"Aren't we the same, Sensei?"

"...Don't say such disrespectful things."

"Then deny it."

I pressed her further, but Hoshinomiya-sensei didn't react, remaining silent for a few seconds.

Then, lowering her hand, she glanced at me and nodded in acknowledgment.

To win, she was willing to exploit the emotions of others, even using their affections.

Whether she had the intellect or not to strategize like that, if she wanted to, she could execute such a plan.

"Anyway, by putting Ichinose under so much psychological stress for the sake of the special exam, you've thrown my class into complete and utter chaos. Do you have any idea what's going on with me? Honestly, I don't even want to talk about this anymore."

Even though the Keyaki Mall was bustling with noise, a teacher and student meeting together was bound to draw attention.

While there weren't many students noticing us yet, a few had started to.

"So what do you think I came here to say?"

"Eh?"

"When I told you I had something to say, you didn't refuse, did you? You even agreed to meet me. And you clearly didn't think I was coming here for a date."

"Well... some kind of student problem?"

"If it were, wouldn't it make more sense to talk to my own homeroom teacher? There's no need to consult the homeroom teacher of another class."

"That's not necessarily true. If it's love advice, Sae-chan probably couldn't help. Honestly, I didn't really think deeply about what it might be. I just figured it wouldn't hurt to listen."

"I see."

We stared at each other intently—or rather, we sized each other up, trying to gauge what the other had in store.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, you already suspected this would be about the special exam. And you came here because you thought there was a chance it might benefit you in some way, didn't you?"

"...Uh..."

I dared to speak to her this way because she hadn't yet seen through my intentions.

From her perspective as a teacher, she should have refused this meeting outright.

"Why don't we set that aside and move the conversation forward?"

"Move forward, you say—"

"Before the special exam, you asked me to do something, didn't you?"

I addressed the heavily guarded Hoshinomiya-sensei.

"…What was that?"

As expected, she was on guard and didn't admit it outright.

"While I refused at the time, I think there's room for negotiation under the right conditions."

However, hearing this, her anger only deepened.

"Huh? Too late! The special exam is long over! You're way too late! Are you stupid?"

The implication being, "If you were going to help, you should've done it from the start."

"I understand how you feel. But the upcoming special exam is the most critical for students. Hearing such a proposal would unsettle anyone and make it hard to think straight. I never expected a teacher to ask me to betray my class, did I?"

"Ugh..."

What I said was irrefutable.

"I think the perspective itself wasn't wrong. It's only because the exam is over that I've calmed down and now think this isn't a bad idea."

By this point, Hoshinomiya-sensei probably wasn't feeling pleased.

While I said I'd calmed down, she too returned to a state of composure.

Helping a teacher cheat was just as unthinkable as a teacher helping a student cheat.

"Even so, it's too weird, isn't it? My proposal was for you to lose. In other words, it didn't involve asking you to betray your class in the future. To now bring up handing over the next special exam's victory makes no sense."

"Sensei, you made that proposal knowing that context, didn't you? It's the same thing. If there's something to gain, it's negotiable."

"—Huh? Are you serious? You want to betray your class just to sleep with me?"

Hoshinomiya-sensei's tone was one of utter shock, her gaze filled with disdain.

"That won't be necessary. But if we could negotiate different terms, I'd consider it."

"…What terms?"

"In this school, personal points are what matter most. If you can offer certain conveniences, we can continue the discussion."

"…Are you serious?"

"I never aimed to graduate from Class A in the first place. Living comfortably during school or securing personal points that can be converted after graduation would be great."

"I understand you're not fixated on Class A. But unfortunately, I don't trust you. This conversation is far too strange. Besides, what could you even do? The final exam, where you served as the ultimate defense, is already over."

"Even as a third-year, there will still be special exams. If Horikita's class were to face yours, passing on insider information isn't out of the question. That alone should be appealing enough."

"Even so, your capabilities are limited. Even if your class were to drop, there's still Sakayanagi-sensei's class blocking the way. Plus, my class shows no signs of improving. It's like pouring water into a sieve."

She let out a frustrated sigh, her dissatisfaction palpable.

"The chance I gave you was before the year-end special exam—that was both the first and the last. Got it?"

"No room for negotiation, then. But in that case, your class won't make it to Class A either, Sensei."

"Mind your own business. I'll figure something out."

"And what would that be? Rebuilding Ichinose's class until they can make a comeback?"

"There are ways to make it to Class A without doing that. But I can't tell you."

"So, in other words, Hoshinomiya-sensei, are you planning to use your authority as a teacher to push your class up by any means necessary?"

She gave me the sharpest and most intense glare of the day.

"I'll show you—I will become Class A, no matter what it takes."

She finished off the remaining 70% of her drink in one go, as if telling me, "This conversation is over."

"Please, wait."

"I don't want to waste my precious vacation time with boring kids anymore."

"I don't mind, but the people behind you don't seem to feel the same."

"Behind?"

Reluctantly, Hoshinomiya-sensei turned around and froze at the sight of the three people approaching.

"What's going on…? Why are Sae-chan and the others are here?"

The three approaching were Chabashira-sensei, Majima-sensei, and Sakagami-sensei.

The homeroom teachers of the second-year classes.

2.

This morning, the conversation with Mii-chan and the others was scheduled for 10:30.

After that, I was set to meet with Hoshinomiya-sensei at a café at 12:00, leaving some free time in between.

In fact, when I contacted Hoshinomiya-sensei yesterday, I also informed my homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei, that I had something to discuss with her. I suggested meeting at Keyaki Mall at 11:00 today. Initially, Chabashira-sensei wanted to have the discussion at school, but I insisted that it had to be at Keyaki Mall. Although she was somewhat reluctant, she eventually agreed. It's understandable for her to resist meeting a student at Keyaki Mall, but I was confident she wouldn't outright refuse. The topics of discussion might include Maezono's withdrawal and conflicts among classmates. It's easy to imagine she would be concerned about my mental state.

I changed into casual clothes and left much earlier than the appointed time, heading toward Keyaki Mall.

However, after meeting with Mii-chan and the others along the way, I didn't arrive until 10:50.

"You're here early."

From a distance, I could already see my target. It seemed she had arrived earlier than expected, likely believing it was her duty as a teacher not to keep a student waiting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

I approached her and greeted her, but Chabashira-sensei glanced at the time again.

"You didn't keep me waiting. There's still some time before our appointment, so don't worry about it."

After saying that, she looked around uneasily.

The meeting place I chose was sparsely populated. Although there weren't many students around, it was still difficult for her to fully relax.

"I never thought I'd meet a student at Keyaki Mall someday."

She scratched her face with her finger, revealing her discomfort.

"Not even once before?"

"Of course not."

I wasn't too familiar with how things worked in typical schools, but I felt like meetings between teachers and students outside of school wouldn't be unusual at this school.

"Ah, is that so? I remember Chabashira-sensei used to deliberately keep her distance from students—"

Chabashira-sensei narrowed her eyes and glared at me sharply.

"Ayanokouji, that was uncalled for."

"My apologies."

"That's not something a simple apology can resolve."

If I truly wanted to apologize, I shouldn't have said such a thing in the first place. As an adult, she corrected the carelessness in my words.

"…Was it really necessary to meet at Keyaki Mall?"

If there's something to discuss, there must be better places to do so.

"I understand how you feel, but this is the best meeting spot."

"I'd like to know why."

"I understand. But could we wait a bit longer? Two more people haven't arrived yet."

"Two more people?"

Chabashira-sensei seemed quite shocked, as she hadn't been told there would be others joining us.

It was natural, considering I hadn't mentioned it.

"I believe this issue can't be resolved one-on-one."

Hearing this, Chabashira-sensei's expression grew even more serious.

"Horikita… and Hirata? Is this situation more complicated than I thought?"

She quietly asked if it was those two classmates, assuming as much.

At this point, there was no need to hint about Maezono anymore. It was better to ease her mind for now.

"Unfortunately, that's not the case. This has nothing to do with Maezono or the class."

"Really? That incident just made you the center of attention…"

"Thankfully, during our post-exam discussions, I explained that I did what I had to for the sake of victory, and they seem to have accepted it."

At least for now, no students had come to question me privately.

"…That's good to hear."

She placed a hand on her chest as if to calm herself. She genuinely seemed relieved.

"Looks like they haven't arrived yet. Sensei, you can ask me questions now."

"Me, ask you?"

"Of course. You watched the year-end special exam, didn't you?"

I brought it up to pass the time. The relaxed expression she had just shown immediately tensed again.

"As long as it complies with the rules, how students choose to compete is their freedom. The class won, and now it's about to be promoted to Class A; that's something to be happy about."

"Even if one of your students dropped out in the process?"

"...That part isn't exactly something to be happy about. However, as a teacher, I shouldn't interfere too much with the students or the class. I overstepped when I tried to use you before. I don't plan to repeat that mistake."

She was probably referring to the uninhabited island exam in the first year.

Chabashira-sensei hinted that my father was involved, aiming to secure the class's victory through any means. While it didn't technically violate exam rules, it was morally questionable.

"Seems that's the case."

She glanced at me with what seemed like a trace of resentment but then sighed and smiled bitterly.

"Well, it's a scar of ambition that leaves me with mixed feelings. But it also made me realize... you're a student who doesn't hold back, even with teachers."

"I'm not very good at reading people... It seems another person has arrived."

I looked toward the figure approaching us, and Chabashira-sensei turned her head as well.

"Huh—? Sakagami-sensei...?"

Not a student, but Sakuragi-sensei in casual clothes.

Almost simultaneously, Majima-sensei emerged from the corner of the corridor.

The male teachers had arrived on time.

Now, aside from me, the student, the homeroom teachers of three classes were all present.

"Ayanokouji, what's going on? You invited more than just me?"

Majima-sensei was the first to ask questions.

I knew they had all assumed this would be a one-on-one conversation.

"Making up reasons to call teachers out isn't something to be praised. It'll cause problems."

After realizing the situation, Majima-sensei sternly informed me.

"Majima-sensei, Ayanokouji hasn't explained the details to me either. Let's hear what he has to say first—"

"No. Teachers and students need to maintain appropriate distance. Moreover, to trust each other, there shouldn't be any deception."

"Well... that's true..."

Chabashira-sensei tried to intervene, but Majima-sensei ignored her and seemed ready to start lecturing.

"Listen carefully, Ayanokouji. As a student of this school—"

"I've already gathered all the information about Akiyama-san."

"This time, I'll let it slide. Be more careful next time."

Majima-sensei abruptly changed his tone, cutting off his lecture, and forgave me without hesitation.

"Majima-sensei, is that really okay?"

Sakagami-sensei, who had been expecting a lecture, couldn't help but chime in upon seeing Machima-sensei's sudden shift.

"I feel like lecturing here would only waste everyone's time."

"I see. But who is Akiyama? I don't recall a student by that name."

"Don't worry about it. Listen, Ayanokouji. After this, I have something to discuss with you alone later, understood?"

I nodded, and Majima-sensei nodded back in agreement.

Akiyama. That was the name of a female staff member at the gym in the Keyaki Mall, which both Machima-sensei and I frequented.

She seems to be the person Majima-sensei cares about the most among the opposite sex.

We had agreed that I would help investigate whether she had a boyfriend and what her ideal partner was. From there, I would delve into her interests and preferences. Honestly, it was troublesome, but gathering information in advance turned out to be the right move.

"So, what's this about? Explain it to us."

"Of course. The reason I didn't provide details beforehand was to prevent any leaks. In truth, I called you all here today for a shared purpose."

This suspenseful statement piqued Sakagami-sensei's interest. Crossing his arms, he softly muttered:

"Go ahead."

He seemed to think advancing the conversation was the priority, urging me to continue.

"During the year-end special exam a few days ago, Hoshinomiya-sensei approached me. It was after the rules for the representatives were explained, and the participants' groups had been formed. I was on my way to the restroom."

Since I was very specific, the three teachers should have been able to recall the situation from that time.

"Chie... No, Hoshinomiya-sensei?"

Majima-sensei and Sakagami-sensei were both present, and Chabashira-sensei first addressed her by her given name before correcting herself.

"Indeed, she said she was going to the restroom and left once. Was it then?"

Sakagami-sensei clearly remembered that moment and spoke up.

"Actually, I don't think she went to the restroom. After talking to me, she returned to the preparation room without hesitation."

"In other words, she made up an excuse to talk to you?"

"Yes."

"But there's no rule against teachers talking to students."

"I think the issue lies in the content of the conversation."

Without hiding anything, I told them exactly what Hoshinomiya-sensei had discussed with me.

At this point, lying or leading them to misunderstand would bring no benefit.

She had asked me to go easy on her.

She said she didn't want to lose to Chabashira-sensei.

As a reward, she offered to share future special exam details in advance if it was within her power, even hinting that she could repay me with her body.

After finishing my explanation, Chabashira-sensei pressed her hand to her forehead with a troubled expression, while Machima-sensei let out a sigh of sheer disappointment.

"If this is true, then it's a serious problem…"

"Majima-sensei, if Chie isn't dealt with, her future misconduct as a teacher might escalate even further."

Understanding the situation, Chabashira-sensei acknowledged the potential for worsening circumstances.

Hearing this, Majima-sensei had no choice but to make a judgment.

"Even though it's troublesome, it must be dealt with. Improper interference cannot be forgiven."

He nodded with a serious expression, as if he had made up his mind.

"We can still make her rein it in now."

"What are you planning to do?"

"...If Hoshinomiya-sensei is willing to change her ways, we can resolve this privately. Since Ayanokouji refused to cooperate, the issue hasn't been made public."

It was unclear whether this leniency was because she was once their classmate or simply because they were both homeroom teachers for the second year. Majima-sensei expressed that he didn't want to escalate the matter.

It seemed Chabashira-sensei felt the same. She showed no signs of objection.

However, Sakagami-sensei, who didn't share any personal connections, likely wouldn't see it that way. His class was currently in an excellent position, aiming for Class A.

"Even if it was just an attempt, you two are far too lenient. If this is true, it should be reported."

"That—!"

Chabashira-sensei reacted immediately, but Sakagami-sensei calmly stopped her.

"Please don't draw conclusions so early. I have no intention of immediately reporting everything to the school."

For Hoshinomiya-sensei's two old classmates, Sakagami-sensei's stance was now the most troublesome.

He continued, speaking calmly:

"The structure of this school inevitably makes people want their class to win by any means necessary. This doesn't only apply to students. Even adults occasionally resort to dirty tactics. I'm not entirely without fault in this regard when it comes to favoring my class."

It was unclear whether he was referring to the issue during the first year when Sudou was summoned by the student council or something else.

"Whether to report this to the higher-ups or to downplay it, what's important now is the credibility of the testimony. There's no way to confirm if what Ayanokouji-kun said is true; it's just his side of the story."

"Are you intending to doubt the student's testimony?"

"I didn't say that. But this testimony needs verification. If the claim that Hoshinomiya-sensei overstepped her bounds turns out to be false, she would likely be extremely indignant. This could escalate into a situation where the suspicion falls on us for doubting her, and who knows what kind of punishment that could bring."

"This—"

Sakagami-sensei was filled with doubt, but this was necessary.

The reason I didn't just call over Majima-sensei and Chabashira-sensei, who are Hoshinomiya-sensei's colleagues, was based on the belief that "a teacher who can evaluate this situation from an impartial perspective is indispensable."

"And there's also the possibility that Hoshinomiya-sensei and Ayanokouji-kun colluded in advance to set up a trap, isn't there? Ayanokouji-kun?"

"Yes. It's only natural not to believe my one-sided account. My homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei, might want to protect her out of personal feelings. I anticipated that even if she had doubts, she wouldn't take steps to verify them."

Seeing how I had predicted everything, Sakagami-sensei adjusted his glasses.

"From your tone, it sounds like you have a good plan?"

"Indeed. It's almost 12 PM. I've arranged to meet Hoshinomiya-sensei at the café. Even though I didn't tell her the topic of discussion, she still agreed to meet. This likely means she has her own expectations. So, I plan to prove the truth of what I just said at that time."

Saying this, I took out my phone.

"Before I meet with Hoshinomiya-sensei at the café, I will call Chabashira-sensei. Afterward, I would like all of you to listen in on our conversation. If her testimony matches my claims, I hope you will support me."

"So, you're asking us to eavesdrop on your conversation? That's not exactly commendable."

While Majima-sensei seemed dissatisfied with this approach, Sakagami-sensei appeared supportive and reassured him:

"No, this is the best course of action. Hearing the facts directly from her mouth is the most convincing evidence. Chabashira-sensei, do you have any objections?"

"…Ah… no."

Rather than outright reluctance, she seemed more concerned about the possibility of this proving Hoshinomiya-sensei's misconduct.

"Although this might not put you at ease, even if we uncover evidence of Hoshinomiya-sensei overstepping boundaries, as long as she agrees to stop here, I won't escalate the matter."

"Sakagami-sensei, would you really… do that?"

"Yes. If I make an enemy of you two now, it could spell trouble for me next year. If I mess this up and end up targeted by all three classes and lose, I bear responsibility for that too."

He expressed his desire as a homeroom teacher not to hinder Ryūen's class.

After finishing the discussion, I decided to take action immediately.

"Could I ask the teachers to wait here for now? Once I meet Hoshinomiya-sensei, I will call you. Please answer and listen to the conversation first. Once it's confirmed, you can approach without issue."

With that, I headed alone to the café at the Keyaki Mall.

3.

This is what happened before I met with Hoshinomiya-sensei.

The appearance of the three teachers wasn't a coincidence but an inevitability.

Not only was Hoshinomiya-sensei present, but other three homeroom teachers as well. This, albeit reluctantly, attracted quite a bit of attention.

Although she initially appeared quite shocked, Hoshinomiya-sensei quickly responded with a smile.

When I told her there was something I wanted to discuss, she readily agreed.

However, it was difficult to hold a conversation here, so we decided to move to another location.

Having four adults gathered together was already eye-catching; adding a student into the mix made it even more unusual. Despite this, I decided to meet Hoshinomiya-sensei at the Keyaki Mall, considering that it wouldn't be appropriate to summon her to a secluded location.

In a public space, even if either side harbored some kind of scheme, there would be limits to what could be done.

If we had met in private in an isolated place, the other party could have laid out a plan without hesitation.

While heading back to the school was an option, it would have been troublesome if other teachers overheard the conversation. Thus, we ultimately decided to conduct the discussion in Majima-sensei's room at the teachers' quarters, which was the safest choice.

As we moved, Hoshinomiya-sensei glanced at me with an expression that seemed to say, 'You're something else,' to which I naturally responded with a clueless look.

The teachers' rooms were slightly larger than the students', about 40 square meters, but otherwise unremarkable.

"So, what now? What's going on? Why has it come to this?"

"Chie, you know the reason yourself."

"I wouldn't be asking if I did, would I?"

She likely had a good idea of what was happening. Even so, until everything was laid bare, she would maintain her defiant stance.

Chabashira-sensei glanced at Majima-sensei and the others, seemingly steeling herself to press further.

"Using students… No, a teacher attempting to violate the rules to secure victory in an exam isn't something we can turn a blind eye to."

"Huh? What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean~"

"Unfortunately for you, Ayanokouji had us monitor your conversation in advance. Any pale attempts at denial will only backfire, Hoshinomiya."

Now that her actions were exposed, she couldn't make any rash moves going forward. If the teachers believed that this warning was enough for her to back off, that was their prerogative. My goal was to prevent Hoshinomiya-sensei from falling behind.

In other words, it wasn't about stopping her from cheating but protecting her from being demoted, which would cause even greater harm to Ichinose's class.

"Let's agree to stop engaging in such pointless actions, okay?"

"Of course, Sae-chan. As a teacher, I would never interfere in student matters. Never~"

"I'm not joking—I'm genuinely worried about you."

Faced with Hoshinomiya-sensei's still nonchalant attitude, Chabashira-sensei stepped closer, placing her hands on her shoulders.

Hoshinomiya-sensei's ambiguous smile, which she had maintained throughout, stiffened for the first time as she witnessed this genuine concern.

"…Ugh, what are you doing? You're making me feel sick. Please don't do that."

Her tone turned cold as she grabbed Chabashira-sensei's forearm in return.

"Chie…?"

"Are you really worried about me? I don't need your concern. More than that, I'd rather you give up on your unworthy goal of reaching Class A."

"This…"

"There's no way I can just sit back and watch Sae-chan's class graduate as Class A."

Provoked by Chabashira-sensei's words, Hoshinomiya-sensei began speaking her true feelings.

The three teachers, however, didn't appear surprised.

In fact, their expressions seemed to say, 'As expected.'

"I've never forgiven Sae-chan. I refuse to acknowledge your goal of graduating as Class A."

"…I understand if you resent me, and I can't blame you for it. But we're not students anymore—we're teachers. What's wrong with wanting my students to graduate as Class A?"

"Of course, it's wrong!"

Hoshinomiya-sensei declared that even if Chabashira-sensei's intentions to aim for Class A were entirely for the students, it was unacceptable.

Then she brushed Chabashira-sensei's hands away.

This determination and resolve piqued Sakagami-sensei's interest, as he crossed his arms and observed.

"I understand that you, the two of you—no, even Majima-sensei—were once students at this school. Regardless of the extent, there must have been some conflicts within the class back then. But as Chabashira-sensei said, that was all in the past. Hypothetically, if Chabashira-sensei led her students to graduate as Class A, the most it would affect is her salary and evaluations. Are you so concerned about that discrepancy?"

"Not at all. While it's true that a teacher leading their class to Class A mainly impacts performance evaluations, that's not what's important to me…"

She hesitated to say more, finding it difficult to continue.

"It's the fact that Sae-chan selfishly moved on from the past. It really pisses me off."

This was the primary reason she had abandoned the principles of a teacher and student alike and was determined to take action.

"A purely personal grudge, huh?"

Back in their student days, Chabashira-sensei's refusal to abandon her classmates during the unanimous vote test shattered their class's dream. The past couldn't be changed, but it was precisely because of this that Hoshinomiya-sensei's resentment had persisted, accumulating over time.

At the very least, she wanted Chabashira-sensei to carry guilt for that incident forever. For that reason, she refused to acknowledge Chabashira-sensei's class graduating as Class A in any form.

But even if Chabashira-sensei said she hadn't forgotten the past, Hoshinomiya-sensei wouldn't let it go.

Because it wasn't just Chabashira-sensei's issue—Hoshinomiya-sensei was also still trapped in the cage of her past. She wanted Chabashira-sensei to live forever with the guilt of failing her students. If Chabashira-sensei succeeded, Hoshinomiya-sensei would lose her emotional anchor.

"To be this obsessed… no, it's understandable… but you still can't forgive me, can you?"

"That's right, I can't. And you know that, don't you? I'm just that kind of terrible woman. But it doesn't matter—I've gotten used to being seen that way. It's how I've lived my whole life. Hate me if you want to. You've known me since our first year of high school; you should know that better than anyone, Sae-chan."

Blunt and straightforward—this was one way to live powerfully.

"If you want to change my mind, then give up on your dream of leading your class to Class A."

"There's no way I can do that. A teacher dragging their students down? Impossible."

"Of course you can. After all, you used to be like that—a cold, detached homeroom teacher that everyone disliked. Going back to that would help me a lot."

Indeed, the Chabashira-sensei from the beginning of the school year was entirely different from the one now. But that was because she had been hiding her true feelings under the weight of her past guilt.

For students who are still maturing, whether their teachers genuinely care for them is an essential element that cannot be ignored.

The battle for the Class A seat will only grow fiercer in the future, and this might ultimately influence the outcome.

"I…"

"Don't hesitate. Promise me right now that you'll go back to your old, indifferent self. If you can't do that, then stay out of it."

"If you don't step aside, I'll have no choice but to report your violations. At that point, you'll lose your position as homeroom teacher."

Sakagami-sensei stated firmly that he couldn't turn a blind eye, but Hoshinomiya-sensei showed no sign of backing down.

"I don't mind. Of course, I won't break any rules, but I'll struggle desperately in my own way. And if anything unsightly is exposed in the process, I am willing to be cast out."

Her words were not a threat but an expression of her true feelings.

Several reasons could explain her stance.

First, she might not be particularly attached to the title of "teacher."

She likely continued in this profession solely to hinder Chabashira-sensei. If that goal were compromised, being fired would be an acceptable price for her. It was a high-risk, low-reward approach.

"I see, your determination is genuine... But I don't understand. If we already know the circumstances, any straightforward misconduct will soon be uncovered. In other words, you're just adding risk with little gain. Besides, if the homeroom teacher's misconduct is exposed, it might destabilize their class as well. Ah… I see…"

As he voiced his doubts, Sakagami-sensei came to understand Hoshinomiya-sensei's position.

The ideal scenario would be to secretly aid her class. If that couldn't be done, she was prepared to stage a dramatic self-destruction. If a homeroom teacher were dismissed for breaking the rules, the prospects of Ichinose's class improving would diminish significantly. At the same time, Chabashira-sensei would once again bear the weight of overwhelming guilt.

This might even bring negative effects to Horikita's class.

In fact, just the discussion earlier had already put Chabashira-sensei under considerable mental strain.

"Chie…"

"I absolutely refuse to accept it."

It was clear that Hoshinomiya-sensei's obstinance surpassed expectations on this side.

Ambiguous persuasion wouldn't sway her resolve.

"Chabashira-sensei, may I suggest giving Hoshinomiya-sensei some time?"

At this point, Majima-sensei, who had remained silent, interjected.

Judging from his use of formal language, he was emphasizing that his words were not as a peer but as a fellow homeroom teacher.

"…Give her time, you say?"

"Yes. Whether Hoshinomiya-sensei decides or Chabashira-sensei changes her mind, there's no need to reach a conclusion immediately here. I believe that's the best course of action. Everyone can see the situation; it's hard to make progress right now. Fortunately, this occurred during spring break. There's ample time to clear one's thoughts and regain composure. After all, there's a possibility of finding a third way."

Even if it proved fruitless in the end, postponing the issue until the new term wouldn't be a bad move.

A head-on confrontation right now would truly leave no room for retreat.

"As a student, it might be impertinent to speak, but I also support Majima-sensei's suggestion."

The three teachers were all aware of the risk of Hoshinomiya-sensei losing control.

The progress made today was already significant.

"Even if we delay, my opinion won't change."

"Sticking to your resolve is fine, but at least outwardly, please keep a low profile. No matter whose perspective you consider, this approach comes at no cost."

The two main parties involved, along with Majima-sensei and Sakagami-sensei, likely all agreed that escalating the situation would negatively impact the students. Delaying the matter was a favorable proposal.

"…Well, for now, let's leave it at that."

"In that case, this discussion is over. Let's disband."

Lingering could only lead to further arguments, so Sakagami-sensei led the way to the entrance.

We followed his steps, preparing to leave.

Majima-sensei probably wanted to ask about Akiyama-san, but it wasn't the right atmosphere for that now. That discussion would have to wait for another day.

As Sakagami-sensei and Majima-sensei lived on the same floor, they parted ways quickly.

I entered the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. Chabashira-sensei joined me.

"Sorry. Even though you confided in me without reserve, I couldn't be of much help."

"That's not true. You've already done plenty, Sensei."

"Although it wasn't resolved immediately, I truly appreciate the courage you showed in bringing this matter to us."

The forced smile Chabashira-sensei managed only made her exhaustion more apparent.

"Through today's discussion, I've found a breakthrough."

"…A breakthrough?"

Chabashira-sensei looked at me with disbelief and puzzlement.

"I understand your concerns about Hoshinomiya-sensei potentially engaging in unfit behavior as a teacher. But please stay strong. Facing the new term with the same determination as when you overcame the unanimous special exam in the past is crucial."

"That… You're right."

The elevator reached the first floor, and the doors slowly opened.

I took a step out of the elevator and turned to look at Chabashira-sensei, who remained inside.

"Don't worry. Before spring break ends, I'll change Hoshinomiya-sensei's perspective."

Hearing this, Chabashira-sensei hurriedly tried to step out, but I stopped her.

"You? Change her? …What do you mean?"

From her perspective, I was merely someone dragged into their longstanding grudge.

She probably believed this wasn't a problem a student could solve.

She was wrong.

Hoshinomiya-sensei's issue was actually simple and easy to resolve.

There was no need for Chabashira-sensei, Majima-sensei, or Sakagami-sensei—I could handle it.

But that alone wouldn't suffice. Everything needed to proceed step by step.

"I'll definitely resolve this before spring break ends… Well then, I'll take my leave for today."

As the elevator doors began to close—

"You… what on earth…"

Even after the doors shut, the image of Chabashira-sensei's confused figure lingered in my mind.